"Dexter" fans have a shorter wait for the show's next season: The serial killer drama will premiere June 30 and lead into the new show "Ray Donovan," Showtime announced Saturday.
Showtime president of entertainment David Nevins said at a Television Critics Association panel that he expects to announce soon whether the next season of "Dexter" will be its last one.
"Homeland," meanwhile, will premiere Sept. 29, and will lead into the new "Masters of Sex."
The plan means splitting up "Dexter" and "Homeland" for the first time. The two shows have aired back-to-back in the fall for the last two seasons, which were the first two seasons of "Homeland."
Nevins said the shorter break between seasons for "Dexter" won't hurt the show because the producers had "a lot of advance warning" that the series would be back earlier than usual. He also praised a decision this season to have the main character's sister, Deb, discover that he is a serial killer, saying it "revitalized the show." But Nevins was noncommital on whether the end is near.
"The decision of when to end 'Dexter' is ultimately a creative decision," he said, noting that its ratings remain strong.
Nevins also detailed plans for the new series "Penny Dreadful," from "Skyfall" writer John Logan and director Sam Mendes. The show will offer a"very realistic" look at society's most frightening creatures -- including Dracula, Frankenstein, and perhaps Jack the Ripper -- in Victorian-era London. Nevins said it would be a "highly erotic" ensemble drama, and that he hopes Mendes will direct.
Nevins also said Showtime continues to grow in subscribers, hitting 22 million. The network is also on a creative high after a best dramatic series Emmy for the first season of "Homeland."
Nevins also described much of the rest of Showtime's upcoming schedule. A new season of "Inside Comedy," featuring Louis C.K. and Tina Fey, among other guests, will premier Feb. 11.
"Nurse Jackie" and "The Borgias" will return April 1.
The final episodes of "The Big C," entitled "Big C: Hereafter," will air in four one-hour installments beginning April 29.